Match Report

By Brian Bennett

It’s still early days. However after two defeats inside a week and with his side currently third bottom of the NPL East Division table, this certainly wasn’t the start to the season which Ashington manager Marc Ellison was hoping for.

In a weird opening 20 minutes, although the Colliers were second best, they will nevertheless reflect on chances which went begging.

In the fifth minute from a wind assisted free-kick driven in by Josh Gilchrist, Scott Lowery missed out with a header then a ball played down the right flank by Rory Powell found Ryan Wombwell and when he crossed, Tom McIntyre failed to get a decent connection at the far post.

Sandwiched in-between, Charlie Birdsall pounced on a miscommunication in the home defence but goalkeeper Matty Alexander came to the rescue, parrying his shot to safety.

Another great opening came Ashington’s way when Liam Henderson played the ball through for Gilchrist. The striker weaved past a couple of defenders inside the area and with supporters expecting the net to bulge, saw his shot blocked for a corner.

Just short of the halfway mark, the visitors went in front. Alexander initially bailed his side out making another good stop from Birdsall.

However from a short corner on the left, Ahmed Salam swung over a superb inviting cross to the far post which was headed in by Bridlington’s centre half Tom Allan.

Ashington responded to the setback as they grew into the game and after Seasiders ‘keeper Alex Baird had grasped a header by Henderson from a Jude Cogdon cross, the home side levelled as half time approached in the most dramatic style with a peach of a goal from skipper Karl Ross.

The midfielder neatly turned a defender then curled a sumptuous effort from 22 yards which arrowed just inside the angle of post and crossbar leaving Baird to grasp thin air.

Two minutes later, Baird pushed out a right footer from Henderson then at the other end, Allan headed wide from a Salam corner.

Bridlington were the better side after the break looking much sharper than their hosts but chances were non existent until Tweed cut inside and fired over.

Then midway through the turning point arrived when Lowery took a poor touch inside his own penalty area as he tried to play the ball out from a short goal kick and lost possession to Brid’s Ifeanyi “Destiny” Nnenanya. It put the substitute clean through one on one with Alexander and he made no mistake, rifling a right footer into the top corner.

In the 78th minute, Tweed scored a third for the visitors which sewed up their win.

Nnenanya turned provider as he pulled the ball back from the by line for Tweed to clip home at the near post.

Sub Toby Marriott had a shot deflected then in the final minute, Salam played a one-two but was foiled when he shot was repelled by Alexander.